With summer in full swing and a flurry of events filling our diaries, now’s a better time than ever to take stock of the pieces in your wardrobe and refresh your footwear collections.
To help you on your way, we’ve put together an essential guide of summer shoes to style you through every scenario for the sunny season. Perfect for ladies with plenty of upcoming events and limited outfit inspiration, this is legitimate reason to indulge in new. The best place to start is with the shoes (or the sandals).
You may find anecdotes from this last year might be a little thin on the ground, but when it comes to your next get-together there’s plenty to be said for being the best dressed this summer. Cue the style ideas to brighten up your summer wardrobe, from sandals, shoes, and even boots, this line-up will guarantee a boost in mood.
The sandals to wear for summer
Summer is the brief and where there is sunshine there are sandals. Made to suit a range of occasions, sandals are the staple of the season, be it dressed up or down, for work or the weekend, you can’t look at this line-up of sandals without thinking of sunshine …
Chunky Sandals
If there’s an element of the past year that we’re unwilling to forgo, it’s the comfortable and comforting staples we have grown accustomed to, and platform sandals really hit the sweet spot between form and function.
The weightless soles of chunky sandals are something to behold, if you haven’t tuned into the utility sandal movement, you need to. Effortlessly cool and endlessly comfortable, you’ll find yourself reaching for these for pretty much every scenario.
For a laid-back approach to office dressing, wear our Mill Island sandals with a linen jumpsuit, note the commuter-friendly sporty soles. Or, for a dramatic day look, clash the bold silhouette of these chunky sandals with a voluminous tiered dress.
Mule Sandals
The uncomplicated elegance of mules should never be underestimated; because it makes them so versatile. From heels to flats, dressed down or dressed up, there’s plenty of ways to wear mules.
For dressy summer occasions like weddings, a pair of block heel mules are instant outfit makers that will boost your height as soon as you slip them on. Ideal for outfits like floral maxi dresses or even sharp tailoring and jumpsuits.
As for flat mules, Birkenstock are a favourite brand, that will lend a refined finish to your most casual of looks.
What to wear with espadrille wedges
Espadrilles are having a serious moment; as the favoured summer shoe for ladies in 2021 they have been spotted at key events like the tennis and races, they offer a refreshing and effortless staple that will look just as good at the side of the court as they do for laid-back brunches.
With wedding season in full swing, espadrilles make the perfect plus one for any wedding guest outfit, armed with all-day comfort they’re just the thing for long days on your feet. Slip on a pair like our Arabella espadrille wedges with ethereal maxi dresses, be clever with your coordinating by picking out pops of colours in prints or your accessories.
Influencer approved our Alyssa espadrille wedges are a trusty favourite for stylists Belle & Bunty. Note the fun clever colour matching of the accessories for a statement sign-off. Equipped with jute ankle ties, they’ll lace-up with pretty much every summer outfit, from billowing cotton dresses, wide-leg linen culottes and cropped jeans too.
What shoes to wear with summer dresses
Wearing trainers with dresses
Wearing trainers and midi-dresses are a failsafe outfit option, capturing the romantic style of the 90s for the nostalgic amongst us, they’ll easily sign-off easy-going looks with pretty and preppy polish.
High-top trainers make a great alternative when it comes to wearing simple summer dresses. Trainers like Adrianna and Brompton, will work just as well with a cotton dress as they do your weekend denim.
For the ethical dresser, sustainable brand Victoria are the go-to choice for earth-friendly trainers. Makers of the original ‘V’ trainers, you’ll find pared-back silhouettes in their collections, that will work just as well with your off-duty denim as they do with floating floral dresses.
How to wear loafers with dresses
Wearing loafers with midi dresses is a great way to keep a feminine look more conservative and comfortable at the same time. Loafers are mostly minimalist, so that means you can go all out where the dress is concerned, choose voluminous cotton-rich dresses with puff-ball sleeves for a statement look, or match floating hemlines and soft floral prints for an easy sunny look.
Loafers make a real investment piece for all-year wear, whether styled with an elegant evening gown or your relaxed weekend outfits. For sun appropriate looks, opt for neutral shades like soft beiges and whites, or go-for traditional loafers that will work through every season.
Can you wear boots in summer?
Boots may seem like an unconventional choice for the season, but with the British summer comes the rain, so you need a faithful pair of ankle boots to reach for in the event of a downpour. Universally flattering, a good pair of ankle boots will style up every outfit through every season.
Wear heeled ankle boots like our Liana boots, with floral-mid-length dresses for a chic evening look, or go bold with a pair of black stomper boots (all eyes are on Sorento) that will lend a bold statement to even the most ethereal of looks.